Lecture 2

Question 1

How does the Botulinum Toxin Function?

Answer 1

Endocytosis of the botulinum toxin -> the light chain cleaves the SNARE proteins on both the vesicle and the internal membrane -> preventing fusion of Ach

Question 2

Name 4 types of Anti-CholineEsterase Inhibitors?

Answer 2

Increases Ach

1. Edrophonium - MG test/Diagnosis
2. Neostigmine: Treatment of MG
3. Donepezil
4. organophoshate

Question 3

What is Edrophonium?

Answer 3

AchEI, Diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis

Question 4

What is Neostigmine?

Answer 4

AchEI, Treatment of Myasthenia Gravis, Used to reverse effect of neuromuscular blockers (Anasthetics)

Question 5

What is Donepezil?

Answer 5

Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease - Increase Ach levels. Can pass through BBB.

Question 6

What is Myasthenia Gravis?

Answer 6

It is an autoimmune disorder; Ab against the Nicotinic Receptors found on Skeletal Muscle.

1) Ab binds to Nic. R -> prevents from Ach from binding
2) Ab causes destruction of NMJ -> redistribution of receptors
3) Ab binds to 2 receptors therefore causing internalization -> decreasing the concentration NicR.

Giving Edrophonium and Neostigmine increase the Ach in the synapse - increase Pr(Saturation, Binding), this does not decrease/reduce immune response. Alleviates symptoms.

Question 7

Where are the Nicotinic Receptors found?

Answer 7

Sk.M and Post Ganglionic Cell Membrane
Nm - Nicotinic receptor of Sk. M
Nn - nicotinic receptors of the nervous system (both sympathetic and parasympathetic)

Question 8

What medications are used to stop smoking?

Answer 8

NicR agonists.
Nicotine binds to the NicR
Varenicline - Champix - partial agonist binds to the Nn and prevents the full reward that you when with smoking.

Question 9

What are the NicR antagonists and their function?

Answer 9

1) Tubocuranine, vecuronium

2) Bind to NMJ -> presurgical skeletal m. relaxant. Use neostigmine to reverse effect.